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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Some quick thoughts on LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Martin Luther King, Jr...
I hate the fact the NBA plays games on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but at least the HEAT didn't play. Even though they weren't on the court, Dr. King was on the players' minds. Dwyane Wade tweeted his thoughts.

Listening 2 Martin Luther King & his vision was amazing. He was b4 his time. We all shld b thankful 4 him & wht he gave up 4 us. His LIFE
— Dwyane Wade (@DwyaneWade) January 17, 2012

LeBron James tweeted his own thoughts about Dr. King in September when he visited the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington D.C. and reiterated his appreciation for the good reverend doctor on the holiday.

@KingJames: In DC at the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial #thegreatestleader

Happy MLK Jr Day!! You are the reason why we can all walk, talk and live in freedom today. Your legacy lives on #MLKcampl.us/huCq
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 16, 2012

Hopefully, this Hip Hop generation of NBA players like Wade and LeBron will break down the Black Wall of Silence and negotiate a provision for "no games on MLK Day" in the next collective bargaining agreement to honor the holiday for this Hip Hop icon.

Most people don't hear the phrase "Hip Hop Icon" associated with Martin Luther King, Jr. very often, but in The Gospel of Hip Hopby KRS-ONE he is referred to as the King of Hip Hop. The Teacha explained why.

"Nowhere else in the World is the King's Dream so accurately expressed as within Hip Hop. Nowhere else in the World is there an international culture that is truly home to all races, classes, ethnicities and religious beliefs without prejudice other than Hip Hop... Nowhere else in the World is a person truly judged by the 'content of their character' as opposed to the 'color of their skin' than within Hip Hop... The King stated: Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. New York is where Hip Hop began culturally in the 1970s."

KRS-ONE spends 17 pages explaining the connection between Dr. King and Hip Hop but you get the point. With such a strong connection between Hip Hop and MLK Jr., it made sense to celebrate the holiday in a venue that honored that connection: the Azucarera NYC Gallery in Harlem.

Check out some of the dope graffiti art in the gallery that honors the King of Hip Hop.